The Last Week Before Christmas

As I write this final BLOG for the year I am reminded of the tragedy in Samoa and Fiji and suffering that people are going through.  I ask clubs to please support the aid effort there and want to recognise the great efforts that our District puts in through the provisions of ERKs and Shelterboxes.

For Christine and I it has been a very pleasurable week attending a number of Rotary Christmas functions.  On Wednesday I had the pleasure of being the guest of Honor at the annual Eastern Hutt Old Folks Christmas Function.  This luncheon is put on for Older Folk in the Hutt area by Eastern Hutt Rotary and we were treated to a great meal, entertainment and some Christmas Carols. 

We also attended Christmas functions at Upper Hutt, Heretaunga, and Otaki clubs where a number of PHFs were awarded.  The Otaki function had Roman theme and it was a fitting way to end our year.



We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and New Year and we look forward to a great year ahead in 2013.

Chris and Graeme 

Update from Shelterbox on the Samoa Cyclone

A ShelterBox Response Team from New Zealand consisting of Walter van der Kley from Ashburton and Lyndon Tamblyn from Bulls is on its way to Apia to assess the need in Samoa following the devastation of Cyclone Evan. ShelterBox also stands ready to respond to Fiji if needed, with ShelterBoxes pre-positioned in Samoa and Fiji to allow for rapid responses in both nations.

ShelterBox is an international not-for-profit organisation that provides emergency accommodation and other survival essentials to disaster victims. ShelterBox aid is delivered in pre-packaged kits - the 'ShelterBox' – that are designed to help an extended family to survive the aftermath of a disaster for at least six months. The kits contain a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, and other tools for survival.

“ShelterBox is very concerned by media reports of loss of life and destruction in Samoa and are similarly concerned by the imminent touchdown of the cyclone in Fiji,” said ShelterBox NZ’s Communications Director, Mike Cahill. “We are well prepared to respond to both island nations, however, and will be doing everything we can to deploy ShelterBoxes quickly and effectively.”

Walter van der Kley was deployed to Samoa by ShelterBox following the tsunami in 2009 when 80 ShelterBoxes were sent from pre-positioned stock in Melbourne, Australia and delivered to Samoa with the help of the New Zealand authorities.

Donations can be made through “Givealittle”, the Telecom Foundation free online fundraising tool. It’s fast, safe and easy to use and where 100% of every donation is given to the charity.

Thousands are left without shelter following Cyclone Evan which has struck

with ferocity across the Pacific.

To make a Donation:

At any branch of the National Bank: Account No: 06 0939 007 1143 02

Cheque Donations: “ShelterBox New Zealand”, PO Box 306, MOSGIEL 9053

Or, via our DONATION HOTLINE: www.givealittle.co.nz/org/ShelterBox/donate

Regards

Warren Irving

Rotary District 9940 'ShelterBox' Coordinator

ERKs in Samoa and Fiji

The following report has been received from Stuart Batty, RNZWCS

Following Cyclone Evan, Rotary’s Emergency Response Kits  have been distributed in Samoa and Fiji. In Fiji, the western division of Viti Levu seems to have suffered the worst effects of the wind in the regions from Rakiraki through Ba, Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka.

Rotarians from Suva headed to the Western Region at 6.30am on Tuesday the day following the Cyclone causing havoc to assist the Rotary volunteers in the west.

The team of 7 vehicles with 30 Rotarians also included Peter Lund from the NZ Head of Mission in Suva together with the Australian High Commissioner in Fiji and a US diplomat currently in the country.

Many recipients of the kits have said that it was the first tangible assistance they had received. Rotary’s rapid response is assisted by many community volunteers and businesses who supply logistical support including trucks and 4 WD vehicles to enable the most isolated to be visited.

Rotary in Samoa is already turning its attention to the next most immediate need which is “safer” water. With typhoid cases being reported affirmative action is needed and Rotary is consulting with government agencies to address the issue.

Fijians are very resilient people and there is a flurry of activity as they repair their damaged homes which many some 24 hours later able to move back in. The ferocity of Cyclone Evan has stretched budgets and many will need assistance with building materials.

Ben Lummis - Speaker at 9940/20 Conference

District 9920/40 Gala Dinner

STARRY STARRY NIGHT

Saturday night is party night at the Conference.

STARRY STARRY NIGHT is the theme, so dress up as your favourite STAR, or as your favourite impressionist painter, or as if you are attending the Oscars or even as Don McLean!

Maybe your club could find a theme within this theme for dressing up.

The sky is the limit for your imagination, so go wild and join in the fun.

A Busy Week With A Little Over One Week to Christmas

District Training Committee

The past week has been a busy week as we head into Christmas.  Last weekend we attended a District Training Committee Meeting.  PDG Dexter Bamberry is the Chair of this committee and currently the committee is focusing on preparing for SP PETS.  This is for all PEs and is a great opportunity for PEs to get together with their fellow PEs across New Zealand, and prepare for their year ahead.   It was also an opportunity to consider workshops on membership and building strong clubs that will be run as part of our Multi District Conference  in April 2013 and District Assembly.

District GSE Committee

Following this we attended a GSE Inwards Committee Meeting headed by Andy Watson.  We are now preparing and looking forward to the Canadian Inwards GSE team visit which is due in our District in late March.



It has also been great to attend a number of Club Christmas parties including our own Club, Plimmerton's party, at which a PHF Sapphire pin was awarded to Brian Greaves for his work as District Administrator of the Foundation Grants programme as we have transitioned into the Future Vision Pilot.  


It was also great to attend Eastern Hutt, Western Hutt and Terrace End functions where again a number of well deserved PHF presentations were made to club members and members in the community.

President Malcolm, AG Carol, DG Graeme, and DGNN Simon

The Western Hutt meeting was their last formal meeting as they prepare to wind up the club at the end of this Rotary year.  The club had a great turn out and high tributes were given to the club for the work they have done in the community over the past 37 years.

Western Hutt Club

On a sadder note we and several other PDGs and Rotarians attended PDG Stuart Macaskill's funeral and heard of his great work for Rotary and the Community.

We are looking forward to a number of visits this coming week as we head toward Christmas.

Bidding Farewell to Vocational Scholar Jenny

All the best for the coming week.

Graeme

Cyclone Evan has struck Samoa causing havoc and destruction.

Cyclone Evan has struck Samoa causing havoc and destruction.

Emergency Response Kits prepositioned in Apia are being distributed to those most affected and back up supplies are being shipped from Fiji.

Cyclone Evan will hit Tonga and Fiji in the coming days and reportedly is intensifying.

We have prepositioned ERKs in Fiji and Rotarians and their supporters are on standby.

Rotary is working with Disaster Management Agencies in all three countries and we anticipate that as well as ERKs, food, water and clothing will be needed.

RNZWCS will advance funds to enable these supplies to be purchased and distributed immediately.

We are therefore asking clubs to support us and have launched an immediate appeal. We are also working with the New Zealand Government through MFAT and the NGO Disaster Relief Forum NDRF.

Please refer to our website www.rnzwcs.org for alternate ways to donate or

send cheques to 

PO Box 20309, 

Christchurch 8543 

or through internet banking 03 1702 0192208 01

Stokes Valley Christmas Parade and Solomon Island Ambulance

On Saturday Christine and I had the pleasure to attend the Stokes Valley Christmas Parade.  This was held under a clear sky and it was great to see a big turn out by the local community.  This annual event is organised by the Hutt River Valley Rotary and it was good to see a big turn out of club members supported by other clubs in the area.  We had the pleasure of riding in an old Dodge in the event.

A shelter box was on show as was the ambulance that has been organised by the Rotary Club of Petone and is destined to be shipped up to the Solomon Islands by the New Zealand Navy in June.  Over the next few weeks the ambulance will be sign written with Rotary on the side.  It will be available over the next few months around District for fund raising events.  This is a great initiative by Petone Rotary.


A great day enjoyed by all.

A Relaxing Week As We Head Into Christmas

Our week began by attending the ROZCOM meeting a Wellington Airport on Sunday morning.  Here representatives from each Districts PR Committees came together to discuss Rotary PR across New Zealand and proposals for 2013/14.  Considerable time was spent discussing Social Media and how we can best use of this to connect with the younger generation and attract new members.  It is great to see a coordinated approach to PR across New Zealand and see the great work that our own PDG Howard Tong is doing.

Later in the afternoon we attended a wild food BBQ put on by Plimmerton Inner Wheel.  This was a great chance to taste some local rabbit, pork, venison, trout and salmon - a great way to finish the day.





It was good to be able to attend a book launch by one of the members of Plimmerton Rotary, David Pine and attend one of our clubs regular club nights which was followed by our final conference committee meeting of the year.  The conference is well on track with the programme now finalised and all speakers in place.  Please remember to visit the conference website at http://www.rotaryconf2013.co.nz and look to register for this even.

On Thursday we attended Wellington North Christmas function, a great night with much fun and laughter.  A highlight of the night was a presentation to PDG Tony Fryer with a PHF Sapphire pin in recognition of his work in District in implementing the Future Vision Pilot.  During his time we have seen Foundation giving increase by 30% in our District.  In addition Tony is also Chair of International RYLA.


We hope you all have a great week as we head in towards Christmas.

Swimarathon - 23 February 2013

Saturday 23^rd February 2013 – be part of the world’s biggest 1 day swim!

On 25^th February 2012, at events organized by more than 100 Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and Sports clubs in 23 countries and 15 time zones, 4546 participants took part in the first Rotary Global Swimarathon. They all swam between 1200 and 1300 GMT and broke the Guinness World Record for the  most swimmers completing 100 metres in the same hour.

Most importantly, more than US$100,000 was raised for the Rotary International End Polio Now Campaign, enabling the immunization of hundreds of thousands of children against this crippling disease.

We simply cannot stop until Polio is finally eradicated from this earth and so on Rotary Day, Saturday 23^rd February 2013, we will once again invite the entire world to take part in what we firmly believe will be the world’s biggest ever 1 day swim. 

As local organizers can choose the time of day and duration of their events during that 24 hours, for 2013 we are targeting over 50,000 swimmers, more than 1000 clubs, raising more than $1million!

As an added incentive, very special prizes will be awarded at the Rotary International Conference in Lisbon in June 2013 for the most money raised for End Polio Now, the most swimmers at any one event and for the District which has the most clubs participating.

Please visit our website http://rotaryglobalswimarathon.org,   
find us on our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/rotaryglobalswimarathon 
or follow us on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rotaryglobeswim 
for further details. 
Alternatively you can e-mail rotaryglobalswimarathon@gmail.com or contact event chair Rotarian Roger Graves from The Rotary Club of Grantham directly at chairrgs@gmail.com

Register by 15 December for best price on Lisbon Convention

Register by 15 December for best price on Lisbon Convention

Register for the 2013 RI Convention by 15 December to save up to $100 off the onsite registration fee. Why attend? Deborah Bowen, of the Rotary Club of Top of the Lake-Mooresville, shares her reasons. Bowen attended her first convention in Chicago in 2005 as a centennial club president. “When I saw the flags from all the Rotary countries, I felt a lump in my throat. You had me at the flag ceremony!" Register by 15 December and save Learn more about why you should attend Learn about Lisbon’s attractions and nightlife

Profiling District Conference Speaker - Simon Denny

A Quiet Week Leading into Christmas

This week has been a quiet week leading into Christmas.  For the second time in 2 weeks I was able to get along to the Rotary Club of Plimmerton for a regular club meeting.  It was the chance to update the club on plans for the conference which are coming along well with the programme set and guest speakers now all in place.  Registrations are beginning to come in which is great to see.

Wednesday we were invited back to the Rotary Club of Foxton as guest speaker to talk about experiences in Antarctica.  There was a good turnout of members and guests.   It is good to see this small club pushing boundaries to look at ways to attract new members.

For the next few weeks we are looking forward to returning to a number of clubs to share the christmas functions.  All the best for the coming week.

Wellington 3 Cluster Meeting

Now that Chris and I have completed our Official Club visits we are looking forward to meeting Clubs and Club President more informally.  On Sunday we had the opportunity to have dinner with AG Vince and the Wellinton 3 Cluster Presidents and Partners.  This was a great opportunity for us to hear what the four clubs are doing and how they are working together.

We are looking forward to attending more Cluster meeting to see how clubs are getting on across District.

Carterton Fair

On Saturday the Carterton Fair and Parade was held in Carterton.  The Rotary Carterton was very evident sponsoring several floats and President Jenny being taken through the town in a vintage car.

Well done Carterton Rotary!

Polio Update

As of November 7th a total of 181 cases have been reported year to date versus a figure of 505 at the same stage last year. Total cases for 2011 were 650. Good progress is being made in Pakistan and Afghanistan, while India remains polio free with the last case reported in January 2011. On the other hand, Nigeria is a concern and is attracting increased levels of attention from Governments and involved NGOs to bring this situation under control. The numbers aren’t large but they need to be managed.  

Nigeria had 101 reported cases at November 7th against 42 cases at the same stage last year. Rotary’s determination to rid the world of this dreadful disease is as strong as ever and the need for funding continues. The Gates Challenge may be over but we need to continue our support for the polio eradication initiative and complete the job once and for all. The current contribution comparison is below and it can be seen that maybe the eye has been taken of the ball now that the challenge is over. 

Now is a good time to remember just how close we are!

Ride to End Polio raises more than US$375,000 for polio eradication

Ninety Rotarian cyclists from clubs throughout the United States took part in the El Tour de Tucson on 17 November in Arizona, raising more than US$375,000 for polio eradication.

RI General Secretary John Hewko and his wife, Marga, were among the Rotarians, friends of Rotary, and family members who hit the pavement along with 9,000 riders from around the world in the charity bike ride, sponsored by the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, completing distances of 42, 60, 85 or 111 miles. The Hewkos also exceeded their goal of $111,000 in pledges, raising more than $200,000 for the ride.

Rotarians have been taking part in the ride since 2009, when the End Polio Now campaign was designated an official beneficiary of the race, allowing Rotary to enroll cyclists to gather pledges for the campaign. In that first year, 27 cyclists raised $35,000. The number has grown steadily since.

This year’s festivities included a pre-ride dinner the night before. Rotarians also staffed a water station along the route, and a booth at the finish line where finishing cyclists could gather and learn more about Rotary and polio eradication.

Since 1985, Rotary and its global polio eradication partners have spearheaded the effort to rid the world of the crippling disease. Cases have dropped to an all-time low -- there were fewer than 200 worldwide in 2012 as of 31 October – and only Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria remain polio-endemic.

But a $700 million funding shortfall for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative threatens to impede progress. Already the funding gap has curtailed scheduled immunization activities in polio-affected countries. If eradication fails and polio rebounds, up to 200,000 children per year could be paralyzed.

Rotary is ramping up its advocacy work in the 200 countries and regions where Rotary clubs exist to encourage every national government to commit to help meet the shortfall. Visitors towww.endpolionow.org can lend their voice to the advocacy efforts by signing a petition for world leaders. Supporters can also upload their photos to be part of the World’s Biggest Commercial, a new initiative to promote polio eradication launched on World Polio Day.

Learn how you can still contribute to the ride.

Wellington South Recognised for Contributions to the Rotary Foundation

On Wednesday Chris and I had the pleasure of attending Wellington South Rotary Christmas function, held at the Pines overlooking Cook Strait on a stunning Wellington night.  This was a fitting occasion for us to present a banner recognising their Club as having given the greatest per capita amount to the Rotary Foundation in 2011/12.

DG Graeme and Chris with Vocational Scholar Casey

It was an enjoyable night and our thanks to the club for their continued support to the Foundation.

Completion of Official Club Visits

This week Christine and I completed our official Club visits when we visited our own home Club of Plimmerton.  Here the Club had put on a Scottish night complete with Haggis, Whiskey and Bagpipes.  It was a fun filled night with many wearing Scottish Kilts and other regalia.  It was an opportunity to present a Community PHF, a certificate for completion of the RLI courses, and to recognise the contribution that the Club has made to the Rotary Foundation.  Our thanks to President Bob and all of the members and partners of the club for their continuing support and for making this such a fitting end to our official Club visits.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all Clubs for the support you have shown to Chris and I as we have travelled throughout our District and you have made us feel so welcome.  We are looking forward to returning to Clubs over the next few months as we continue our DG journey.

Christchurch visit of ShelterBox President and Royal Patron recognises disaster response work

Today’s Christchurch visit by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall provides recognition of the New Zealand ShelterBox team’s post-earthquake efforts and their disaster response contribution around the world.

ShelterBox provides emergency accommodation and other survival essentials to disaster victims and was one of several volunteer organisations invited to meet the Duchess of Cornwall and HRH the Prince of Wales during a walkabout in central Christchurch today.

The Duchess of Cornwall was first introduced to the work of ShelterBox during a visit with the Prince of Wales to Pakistan in 2006, where they saw the charity’s work in the aftermath of the Kashmiri earthquake. Her Royal Highness was so impressed by ShelterBox’s innovative relief concept that she agreed to become President of the charity to show her support for their work.

As President of ShelterBox, Her Royal Highness has a strong interest in the work of the charity, and visited the ShelterBox headquarters in Helston, Cornwall in 2010 to personally thank volunteers who had provided relief for people affected by the earthquake in Haiti, during which ShelterBox deployed some 28,000 boxes providing ‘shelter, warmth and dignity’ to more than 300,000 people.

“ShelterBox’s strength and ability to respond quickly are a testament to the fantastic support and goodwill of its volunteers all around the world,” says Her Royal Highness. “I am very proud to be the President of this wonderful charity, and I have every faith that ShelterBox will continue to move from strength to strength over the next decade.”

Since its creation in 2000 when it sent a consignment of 143 boxes to earthquake victims in the Indian state of Gujarat, ShelterBox has established affiliates in 20 countries around the world, including New Zealand. More than a million people have now received ‘shelter, warmth and dignity’ from ShelterBox.

“We’re delighted and honoured to host our President and Royal Patron in Christchurch today,” says Michael Cahill, ShelterBox New Zealand’s Communications Director. “This visit is a fantastic acknowledgement for ShelterBox and recognises the many millions of people who have been affected not only by the Christchurch earthquake, but also the people around the world who we have been able to help following natural or manmade disasters over the last decade.”

ShelterBox is currently deploying its kits to assist in disaster relief in Syria, Iraq and Nigeria. “Nigeria recently experienced the worst flooding in 50 years with thousands of people having been displaced from their homes,” says Cahill. “While some families have been able to return to their homes as water levels dropped others’ homes have been completely washed away. The boxes that are provided to families will mean that they can relocate their ShelterBox tents near to the rivers and resume fishing, which is their source of income, as soon as possible.”